Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: 8-26-12

The Big Ten Recruiting Rankings returns after a two-week hiatus. Outside of Penn State's class continuing to fall apart, little of note occurred since the rankings were last posted; look no further than Indiana picking up the highest-ranked recruit in that span for evidence. Changes since the last rankings:

^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.

NOTE: Unranked recruits are counted as two-star players.

To eliminate any confusion about how the rankings are determined (to be honest, they used to be arbitrary), team order is determined by multiplying the number of commits by star average.

On to the full data after the jump.

#1 Michigan - 23 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Shane Morris

QB

MI

5

5

5

4

Patrick Kugler

OL

PA

4

5

4

4

Dymonte Thomas

S

OH

4

5

4

4

Kyle Bosch

OL

IL

4

4

4

4

Taco Charlton

DE

OH

4

4

4

4

David Dawson

OL

MI

4

4

4

4

Chris Fox

OL

CO

4

4

4

4

Ben Gedeon

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Jourdan Lewis

CB

MI

4

4

4

4

Mike McCray

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Henry Poggi

DT

MD

4

4

4

4

Logan Tuley-Tillman

OL

IL

4

4

4

4

Wyatt Shallman

ATH

MI

4

4

4

3

Jake Butt

TE

OH

4

4

3

4

Ross Douglas

CB

OH

4

3

4

4

Gareon Conley

CB

OH

3

4

4

4

DeVeon Smith

RB

OH

3

4

4

4

Maurice Hurst Jr.

DT

MA

3

4

4

3

Jaron Dukes

WR

OH

3

4

3

4

Khalid Hill

TE

MI

3

3

3

3

Csont'e York

WR

MI

3

3

3

3

Channing Stribling

CB

NC

2

3

3

3

Scott Sypniewski

LS

IL

2

2

2

2

Shane Morris gets his coveted fifth star from Rivals. Channing Stribling is bumped up to three stars on Scout. Jake Butt falls from four stars to three on 247.

#2 Notre Dame - 19 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Jaylon Smith

LB

IN

5

5

5

4

Alex Anzalone

LB

PA

4

4

4

4

Hunter Bivin

OL

KY

4

4

4

4

Steven Elmer

OL

MI

4

4

4

4

Mike Heuerman

TE

FL

4

4

4

4

Mike McGlinchey

OL

PA

4

4

4

4

John Montelus

OL

MA

4

4

4

4

Isaac Rochell

DE

GA

4

4

4

4

Malik Zaire

QB

OH

4

4

4

4

William Fuller

WR

PA

4

4

3

3

Jamel James

RB

TX

3

4

4

4

Colin McGovern

OL

IL

3

4

4

4

Jacob Matuska

DE

OH

3

4

4

3

James Onwualu

WR

MN

3

4

3

4

Danny Mattingly

TE

WA

3

4

3

3

Corey Robinson

WR

TX

3

4

3

3

Rashad Kinlaw

ATH

NJ

3

3

4

4

Devin Butler

CB

DC

3

3

4

4

Michael Deeb

LB

FL

3

3

3

4

William Fuller gets bumped to four stars on Rivals. John Montelus makes the same leap on 247.

#3 Ohio State - 16 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Jalin Marshall

ATH

OH

4

5

4

4

Joey Bosa

DE

FL

4

5

4

4

Eli Woodard

CB

NJ

4

4

4

5

J.T. Barrett

QB

TX

4

4

4

4

Marcus Baugh

TE

CA

4

4

4

4

Cameron Burrows

CB

OH

4

4

4

4

Michael Hill

DT

SC

4

4

4

4

Evan Lisle

OL

OH

4

4

4

4

Billy Price

DT

OH

4

4

4

4

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

MO

4

4

4

4

Jayme Thompson

S

OH

4

3

4

4

Taivon Jacobs

WR

MD

3

3

3

4

Darron Lee

ATH

OH

3

3

3

3

Tracy Sprinkle

DE

OH

3

3

3

3

Tim Gardner

OL

IN

3

2

3

3

Johnny Townsend

P

FL

2

3

2

3

Cam Burrows drops from five stars to four on Rivals, which also gives Johnny Townsend a two-star rating. Taivon Jacobs is raised to three stars on Scout.

#5 Illinois - 19 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Aaron Bailey

QB

IL

4

4

4

4

Caleb Day

CB

OH

4

3

3

3

Darius Mosely

CB

IL

3

3

3

4

Jarrod Clements

DE

OH

3

3

3

3

Reon Dawson

CB

OH

3

3

3

3

Christian DiLauro

TE

OH

3

3

3

3

Kenton Gibbs

DT

MI

3

3

3

3

Merrick Jackson

DT

IL

3

3

3

3

Reggie Spearman

LB

IL

3

3

3

3

Dillan Cazley

CB

IL

3

3

2

3

Bryce Douglas

DT

IL

3

3

2

3

Kendrick Foster

RB

IL

3

3

2

3

Joshua Jones

S

MI

3

3

2

3

Darwyn Kelly

S

DC

3

2

2

3

Dawuane Smoot

DE

OH

3

2

2

3

Jesse Chadwell

OL

MI

2

3

3

3

Austin Schmidt

OL

OH

2

2

2

3

Martize Barr

WR

IA

2

NR

NR

JC

Miguel Hermosillo

ATH

IL

NR

2

NR

3

The Illini add DC S Darwyn Kelly. Joshua Jones picks up three stars from ESPN. Bryce Douglas earns three stars from Rivals and Scout, several players go from unranked to two stars on both Rivals and 247. Illinois passes Iowa in the standings by virtue of their two extra commits.

#5 Iowa - 17 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

David Kenney

DE

IN

4

4

3

4

Delano Hill

S

MI

4

3

4

3

Jon Wisnieski

TE

IA

3

3

3

4

Colin Goebel

OL

IL

3

3

3

3

Brant Gressel

DT

OH

3

3

3

3

John Kenny

LB

IN

3

3

3

3

Derrick Mitchell Jr.

S

MO

3

3

3

3

Malik Rucker

S

MN

3

3

3

3

Solomon Warfield

S

OH

3

3

3

3

Sean Welsh

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Derrick Willies

WR

IL

3

3

3

3

Nathan Bazata

DT

NE

3

2

3

3

Nic Shimonek

QB

TX

3

2

3

3

Trevon Young

LB

IA

3

2

4

3

Ike Boettger

TE

IA

2

2

3

2

Andre Harris

ATH

MO

3

2

NR

3

Matthew VandeBerg

WR

SD

NR

2

NR

3

The Hawkeyes land South Dakota WR Matthew VandeBerg. Delano Hill earns a fourth star from Rivals, which also gives Trevon Young and Andre Harris three stars and Ike Boettger two. Young and Harris are both bumped to three stars on ESPN.

#6 Northwestern - 17 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Matt Alviti

QB

IL

4

4

4

4

Godwin Igwebuike

ATH

OH

3

3

3

4

Sam Coverdale

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Blake King

OL

IL

3

3

3

3

Brad North

OL

TX

3

3

3

3

Kyle Queiro

ATH

NJ

3

3

3

3

Anthony Walker Jr.

LB

FL

3

3

3

3

Keith Watkins

RB

OH

3

3

3

3

Eric Joraskie

DE

PA

3

3

2

3

Warren Miles-Long

RB

CA

3

3

2

3

Matt Harris

WR

IL

3

2

3

3

Tyler Lancaster

OL

IL

3

2

3

3

Brett Walsh

LB

CA

3

2

3

3

Macan Wilson

WR

TX

3

2

2

3

Jayme Taylor

TE

TX

2

2

3

3

Xavier Menifield

RB

CA

2

2

3

3

Hunter Miswander

K

OH

2

2

2

2

The Wildcats add OH ATH Godwin Igwebuike, high school teammate of Michigan commit Jake Butt. Matt Harris, Tyler Lancaster, and Brett Walsh all go from unranked to three stars on Rivals; Harris and Lancaster also pick up three stars from 247. Hunter Niswander gets two stars from Rivals.

#7 Nebraska - 14 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Marcus McWilson

S

OH

4

4

4

3

Josh Banderas

LB

NE

4

4

4

4

Marcus Newby

LB

MD

4

3

4

4

Johnny Stanton

QB

CA

3

4

4

4

Christian Lacouture

DE

TX

3

4

4

3

A.J. Natter

DE

WI

3

4

3

3

Dan Samuelson

OL

IN

3

4

3

3

Courtney Love

LB

OH

3

3

4

4

Jonathan Cook

CB

AL

3

3

3

3

Nathan Gerry

S

SD

3

3

3

3

Kevin Gladney

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Zach Hannon

OL

MO

3

3

3

3

Greg Hart

TE

OH

3

3

3

3

Gabriel Miller

LS

IN

2

2

2

2

The Huskers add two three-star prospects in AL CB Jonathan Cook and MO OL Zach Hannon. Josh Banderas, Johnny Stanton, and Dan Samuelson all jump to four stars on Scout. Nebraska is close to closing the gap with Northwestern, and another commit could see them move up.

#8 Wisconsin - 13 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Darius Latham

DT

IN

4

4

4

4

Chikwe Obasih

DE

WI

4

3

4

3

Keelon Brookins

CB

MN

4

3

3

3

Rob Wheelwright

WR

OH

3

4

3

3

Austin Ramesh

ATH

WI

3

3

4

3

Garret Dooley

LB

IL

3

3

3

4

Alec James

DE

WI

3

3

3

4

Jack Keeler

OL

IL

3

3

3

4

Hayden Biegel

OL

WI

3

3

3

3

Matt Miller

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

T.J. Watt

ATH

WI

3

3

3

NR

Sam Raridon

DT

IA

3

3

NR

3

Jazz Peavy

WR

WI

3

2

2

3

The Badgers land in-state DE Alec James. In a cruel twist for Minnesota, former Gopher commit Keelon Brookins is bumped up to four stars on Rivals. Jazz Peavy earns three stars from ESPN. Wisconsin moves past a reeling Penn State squad in the rankings.

#9 Michigan State - 12 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Jon Reschke

LB

MI

4

4

4

4

Shane Jones

LB

OH

4

3

3

4

Damion Terry

QB

PA

3

4

3

4

Darian Hicks

CB

OH

3

3

4

3

Jalyn Powell

S

OH

3

3

3

4

Gerald Holmes

RB

MI

3

3

3

3

R.J. Shelton

RB

WI

3

3

3

3

Trey Kilgore

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Devyn Salmon

DT

FL

3

2

2

3

Jay Harris

WR

PA

2

3

3

3

Dylan Chmura

TE

WI

3

2

2

NR

Demetrius Cooper

DE

IL

NR

3

3

NR

The Spartans add IL DE Demetrius Cooper. Dylan Chmura gets a bump to three stars on Rivals. Michigan State also moves past Penn State on the big board.

#10 Penn State - 10 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Adam Breneman

TE

PA

4

5

4

4

Christian Hackenberg

QB

VA

4

4

5

4

Garrett Sickels

DE

NJ

4

4

4

4

Brendan Mahon

OL

NJ

4

3

3

4

Zayd Issah

LB

PA

3

4

3

3

Andrew Nelson

OL

PA

3

3

3

4

Brandon Bell

LB

NJ

3

3

3

3

Curtis Cothran

DE

NJ

3

3

3

3

Neiko Robinson

S

FL

3

2

3

3

Jordan Smith

CB

DC

NR

2

NR

3

The Nittany Lions take a huge hit with the decommitments of borderline five-star OL Dorian Johnson and three-star WR/LB Zach Bradshaw. They do pick up DC CB Jordan Smith, but that's not much of a silver lining as their class is rapidly falling apart.

#11 Purdue - 11 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Danny Etling

QB

IN

4

3

3

3

Keyante Green

RB

GA

3

3

3

4

Randy Gregory

DE

AZ

3

3

3

JC

Austin Logan

S

FL

3

3

2

3

Johnny Thompson

DE

GA

3

3

NR

2

Dwayne Johnson

OL

IL

3

2

3

3

David Yancey

RB

IN

3

2

3

3

Jake Replogle

DE

OH

3

2

2

3

John Strauser

DE

IL

3

2

NR

3

Parker Cothren

DE

AL

2

2

2

2

Myles Norwood

WR

TX

2

NR

3

3

The Boilermakers pick up IL OL Dwayne Johnson. Johnny Thompson, Jake Replogle, and John Strauser each get three stars from Rivals, which also gives Parker Cothren two stars. Strauser and Myles Norwood each add three stars from ESPN.

#12 Indiana - 8 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Antonio Allen

S

IN

4

4

3

4

Danny Friend

TE

IL

3

3

3

3

Chase Dutra

S

IN

3

3

3

2

Isaac Griffith

WR

IN

3

2

3

3

Evan Jansen

TE

OH

3

2

3

3

Demetrius Hill

DT

KS

3

NR

3

JC

Patrick Dougherty

DE

OH

3

2

2

2

Myles Graham

RB

FL

2

2

NR

2

The Hoosiers(!) get the biggest commit of the last three weeks, nabbing former Ole Miss commit Antonio Allen. They also pick up IN S Chase Dutra and FL RB Myles Graham. Demetrius Hill and Evan Jansen pick up three stars fom 247 and ESPN, respectively.

#13 Minnesota - 6 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Alex Mayes

OL

TX

3

3

3

3

Owen Salzwedel

DE

WI

3

3

3

3

Jordan Hinojosa

DT

KS

3

2

NR

JC

Chris Wipson

LB

MN

2

2

3

3

Chris Streveler

QB

IL

2

2

3

3

Jalen Myrick

CB

GA

2

2

NR

3

The Gophers add GA CB Jalen Myrick. Owen Salzwedel and Jordan Hinojosa earn three stars from Rivals, which gives Chris Steveler two stars. Chris Wipson goes from unranked to three stars on 247.

Northwestern; I had told Ace to watch out for Godwin a year ago. He had another blowout game in the opener Friday night (wasn't there, but think he had some of the top rushing stats for central Ohio - 4 TDs, 260 yards rushing, plus 40 yards receiving in the 50-22 win). Before the game, nice article and picture of Jake and Godwin here.

In related Picktown recruit news, the local "This Week" paper had a big article in their season preview insert on "Michigan Taking a Bite of Central Ohio Talent" and featured Taco (and teammate) on the cover:

Yeah, you gotta figure at least one of the 4 (!) safeties in the recruiting class is destined for RB. And maybe the ATH, and one of the LBs or TE. Heck, half of the class will probably be needed to carry the ball at some point in the next 5 years.

Using those weightings (which are based on making All American teams - a flawed, but decent metric), you get that a 5 star recruit is about 2.6 times more likely to be a star than a 4 star recruit, who is in turn around 4.2 times more likely to be a star than a 3 star recruit.

Now star power isn't the only thing that matters, but I don't see any reason to think the distribution for "role player" or "starter" is all that different.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone found all the data you needed to rank the teams any way you want, then compiled it all in one place? Yeah, it sure would.

Just sayin', you guys. No matter what way I do it there are always going to be complaints, and the exact order of the teams doesn't matter nearly as much as getting a snapshot of their respective classes. Also, I'm certainly not stopping anyone from taking the data and doing whatever they want with it; in fact, I'd encourage it.

and I'm gonna give you some advice: just do your thing and don't even bother to respond as you just did A.) they aren't listening B.) what you are stating is obvious to the point where you shouldn't have to retype it every other recruiting rankings post.

Seriously folks, rather than bitching go out and do what you consider better or just mumble to your self.